Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today (Three Stellar Pitching Matchups to Back)

No Run First Inning (NRFI) and Yes Run First Inning (YRFI) bets almost feel like the purest form of baseball betting. Similar to a coin flip, it could all be over in the blink of an eye. Or, you could quickly achieve the winning glory that typically takes nine innings to gain.

I'm an impatient person, so why wait to cash my winners when I could, you know, not?

There's 15 MLB games scheduled and as always, the BetSided team has you covered with previews for each. But let's jump into that purity ring of wagers, shall we? Using odds from WynnBET Sportsbook, here are my favorite NRFI/YRFI bets of the day:

Best NRFI and YRFI Bets Today

Marlins vs Pirates NRFI (-160)

This is a lot of juice to pay, but it's a value regardless. The Iron Man Sandy Alcantara pitches for Miami, having thrown at least seven innings in 13 consecutive games. He had a quality start in 12 of those outings and has been the NL's best pitcher.

Sandy is a straight monster, posting a 0.78 ERA so far this month. I don't see Pittsburgh's pathetic lineup scoring on him, so that leaves us needing just three outs from Mitch Keller to cash this bet. Well, Keller just limited Miami to one run over seven innings and has a 2.37 ERA in July.

The Marlins have MLB's worst OPS against right-handed pitchers over the last three weeks and score in the first inning in only 14.29% of their road contests. Feel comfortable paying the extra juice with the NRFI. It's a value regardless.

Guardians vs White Sox NRFI (-135)

We've got a stellar pitching matchup with Shane Bieber taking on Dylan Cease. Bieber is a true first inning king, allowing a run just once in 17 starts. The White Sox score in the opening frame in just 21.28% of their home games and only mustered one total run against Bieber in a complete-game shutout last week. Thus, I've got confidence in Bieber tossing up another zero.

Dylan Cease, meanwhile, is rapidly becoming an AL Cy Young contender. For my money, he's been the AL's best pitcher over the last two months. He's allowed one or fewer earned runs in 10 consecutive starts, giving up a first-inning run only twice in that span.

I'll trust both dominant pitchers to stay hot and give us a lovely NRFI win.

Astros vs Mariners NRFI (-140)

Another stellar starting pitching matchup rounds out my bets here, as Framber Valdez and Robbie Ray have both been sensational. Valdez has a 1.86 ERA on the road and has held his opponent scoreless in the opening frame in 15 of his 18 starts.

Ray is on fire too, compiling a 1.37 ERA over his last seven starts. He's got a 1.42 first inning ERA, allowing only three earned runs over 19 starts. The Astros score in the first less than 28% of the time on the road, so I like Ray's chances to keep them scoreless.

At these odds, we're getting tremendous value to back two of the best first inning pitchers in the sport. Let's take advantage.

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.